Wire stitching apparatus and control mechanism



' Nov. 22, 1949 0. TUB B5 2,489,207

WIRE STI'IGHING APPARATUS AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l may.

Nov. 22, 1949 o. M. TUBBS 2,489,207

WIRE STITCHING APPARATUS AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 2, 1948 2 Shgets-Sheet 2 Jive ' MW 4% 'ZY 7% Patented Nov. 22, 1949 WIRE SFIITCHIN G APPARATUS AND CONTROL MECHANISM Orville M. Tubbs, Chicago, 1111,, assignorto'lnland WirrProducts' ('lompany, Chicagoylll acorporation of lllinois .Application April 2, 1948, SeriakNo. 18,647

(Chi- 11) 12 Claims.

1 This invention relates to wire-stitching apparatus and control mechanism. 'Theinventionlis particularly useful in connection with apparatus which staples the top or sides of a carton together While the carton is passed under the stapling head of the machine. In the stapling or stitching of cartons, etc. by means of an electrically-operating stitcher head, it is customary to pass the carton over a series of rollers under the head. One difliculty is that the stitches are not evenlyspaced and very often occur at the very ends of the carton where an unsightly and unsatisfactory stapling occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide acontrol mechanism which will accurately space the staples from each end of the carton as'it is passed under the stapling head. Yet another object is to provide mechanismfor controlling the stapling action of the machine to provide evenly spaced staples-in the box-or carton. A further object is to provide mechanism for spacingthe staples from the ends of the carton, while also controlling the spacing of'the staples across the top or sides of the carton, irrespective of the speed of movement of the carton across the roller bed. A still further objectmis' to provide novel control structure for controlling the speed of operation of the stitching head of a-wire-stitching machine, etc., and for other uses. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in. preferred-embodiments, by the accompanyingdra wings, .in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective viewtof apparatus embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a .broken and greatly enlarged view: inside elevation, the roller conveyor-portion. of the apparatus being shown in longitudinal section; Figf 3, a-broken vertical section-a1 view, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, a diagrammatic View of the Wiring layout.

In the illustration given, designates abase equipped with a standard -ll-for supporting a wire-stapling machine, the machine being equipped with the usual staplinghead I2. The base In also supports a standard l3'upon which is adjustably mounted a roller'bed Hi.

The wire-stitching or Wire-stapling machine illustrated is of well-known construction and need not be described in detail. Wire is fed from a spool l5 into the stapling head 12,, Where staples are formed and pressed-through and clinched within the carton I6. Since such structure is 55 '32 well known, a detaileddescriptionherein is believed' unnecessary.

The adjust-ably-supported.roller bed l4 isalso of well-known construction, ,and itisbelieved unnecessary to describeit in detail herein, except as'the bed is altered by .the incorporation therein of the present invention.

. As illustrated, the mner bed I4 is formedio'f. a plurality of rollers; having-.theirends .rotatably secured within the side rails in. "The rails. .11 are supported uponthe arms'l8jpivotedto a lower set of arms l9. Thefllower.setiofrarmsYl9 are pivotally supported uponl'thelirame .20. IA rod 2 l threadedly engages threaded recesses in "the cross-arms 22 so as .to separateithe arms 122,01 to draw them closer-together, in .order' to effect lowering or raising of'the platform [4. .Such lifting structure is well known, and itwilltbe understood that any-suitable means-for .raising or lowering the platform l4may' beemployd. If desired, the platform 14 may'bepermane'ritly supported at a fixed level/andmeans may be provided for raising or lo wering thestitching head 12.

In the structure shownin'Figs.2and 3; I. provide a knurled roller T23, having reducedends .24 journaled inthe rails ll. As'idezfrom the knurling or roughening of the ,rol1er "'2.3; ther'ollerfiis substantially the same as' the adjacent .rollersl25 which, together with the roller 23, makeup the roller bed 14.

At the forward side .of '{the .1iollerij'23,fI provide a switch arm '26 equipped witha rolleri2ladapted to be engaged by a-carton passed. along the roller bed 14. The switch.arm.26.is pivoted to. a .frame plate 128 by means of -aTthreaded bolt-.29, and the arm has a depending'legfill adapted to engagea switch plunger 3|.

On the other side .of3the .roller .23 ,is a-switch arm '32 equipped, at lits..top,.-with -...a roller=33 adapted to be engaged .anddepressd bycthe carton passing thereover. -Theswitch-actuating arm .32 is pivotally supported upon the plate .28 by the threadedbolt34. Thearm BZ isprovided with a depending leg-{35 adapted-to depress :the switch plunger .36.

The switches, closed by theildepressing -.of plunger-s 3| and 36, .may' be arranged .ineseries with the electric .circuit. .of the .motorl forathe stitching. machine or witha solenoid'clutch therein, so that when a carton depressesswitcharm .26, nothing occurs until thesecond.switcharm 32 .is depressed. 'The closing ofboth of .these switches in series will render the .electric circuitefiective for actuating the solenoid 'clutchmnstaliting.the motor of the stitching. machine. -If ;dsired, Athe machine may be operated with the two switches, in series, as described, and with no other controls, the two switches being effective for spacing the staples from either end of the carton.

In the usual wire-stitching operations, some operators pass the cartons over the roller bed at different speeds, the machine being operated at substantially a constant speed. The result is that the cartons are stitched with the staples located at irregular spaces, or with widely varying distances between the staples. To overcome this difficulty and to insure that the carton will receive its full quota of staples and with the desired regular spacing thereof and irrespective of the speed at which the carton is manually pushed along the roller bed, I provide the following mechanism:

The roller 23 is equipped, at one end, with a timer head 31. The head 31 is provided with three equally-spaced knobs or projections 38. Beneath the head 31 and in a position to be engaged by the knobs 38, is a roller 39 mounted upon the shaft of lever 40. Lever 40 is fixed to a shaft 4| journaled in the bearings 42. Fixed to the shaft 4| is a cam 43, The cam 43 is equipped with an inclined face adapted to engage and depress a spring-urged switch plunger 44. Thus, when one of the knobs 38 strikes the roller 39, it oscillates the lever 40, bringing the cam 43 against the plunger 44 to depress it. Immediately after the knob 38 has cleared the roller 39, the plunger 44 is pressed upwardly again to swing the cam 43 back to its original position and to bring the roller 39 into its original position for engagement with the next knob 38. For the brief moment that the plunger 44 is in downward position, a contact is made which causes the machine to carry through one stapling operation. The release of the plunger 44, permitting it to again rise, breaks the electric circuit, and the machine waits until the switch is closed again by the depressing of plunger 44.

Roller 23 is preferably knurled or provided with spaced grooves, which insure the turning of the roller with the carton as the carton is advanced.

If desired, the roller control indicated may be used alone or in conjunction with the spaced switch members 32 and 26.

For some uses, it will be desired to have not only the spaced switches controlled by switch arms 26 and 32, but also the switch controlled by plunger 44 and actuated by the timer head 31 in operation. In this case, the three switches would be arranged in series, so that the electric circuit leading to the motor or to a clutch solenoid for the motor shaft will be rendered operative by the closing of all three'switches and only while all three switches remain closed.

In the specific illustration given in Fig. 4, the switch closed by the plunger 44 is indicated by the numeral 45. The switch closed by the plunger 3| is indicated by the numeral 46, and the switch closed by the plunger 36 is indicated by the nu-. meral 41. The three switches are arranged in series in the circuit 48 and disposed in the circuit is a solenoid winding 49 for actuating the solenoid plunger 50. The plunger 50 is connected to a clutch for connecting the motor shaft or a driving part of the machine with a driven part. It will be understood that any structure may be provided, which will cause the motor to function, or a driven part of the machine to function, only when the circuit is closed by the closing of the three switches. If it is desired to operate the machine through the use of switches46 and 4'! only, switch 45 will be closed permanently rather than being left open, as indicated in Fig. 4. If it is de sired to operate the machine only through the use of the timer head 31 and the switch 45, the two switches 46 and 41 may be permanently closed. Where it is desired to employ all three switches in the control of the machine, the three switches will be left normally open, as indicated in the wiring layout shown in Fig. 4.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a preferred structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departin from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a wire-stitching machine equipped with a bed for supporting objects passed under the stitching head thereof, a pair of switches spaced longitudinally of said bed and adapted to be engaged and closed successively by objects passed over said bed, and an electric circuit controlling the operation of said stitching head and including said switches arranged in series.

2. In a wire-stitching machine equipped with a plurality of rollers, a pair of switches supported below said rollers, and switch arms extending upwardly between the rollers in spaced-apart relation and adapted to close said switches upon contact with an object passed over the rollers, said switches being arranged in series in the electric circuit controlling the operation of said stitching head.

3. In a wire-stitching machine having a rollerequipped bed for supporting objects passed under the stitching head, a pair of switches, and a pair of switch arms pivotally supported upon said bed and extending upwardly on opposite sides of a roller, said switch arms being adapted to close said switches when engaged by an object passed over the rollers, said switches being arranged in series in the electric circuit controlling the operation of said stitching head.

4. In a wire-stitching machine having a rollerequipped bed for supporting objects passed under the stitching head, a pair of switches, a pair of switch arms pivotally supported upon said bed and extending upwardly on opposite sides of a roller, said switch arms being adapted to close said switches when engaged by an object passed over the rollers, a solenoid clutch controlling the operation of said stitching head, and an electric circuit for said solenoid and switches, said switches being arranged in series.

5. In a stitching machine equipped with a bed below the stitching head of the machine, a roller mounted in said bed, spaced switches below said bed and having actuating members extending upwardly through said bed at spaced longitudinal distances and adapted to be closed by contact of an object moved over said bed, said roller being equipped with a timer head, and a switch adapted to be closed by said timer head upon the rotation of said head, said switches being arranged in series in an electric circuit controlling the operation of said stitching head.

6'. In a stitching machine equipped with a bed below the stitching head of the machine, a roller mounted in said bed, spaced switches below said bed and having actuating members extending upwardly through said bed at spaced longitudinal distances and adapted to be closed by contact of an object moved over said bed, said roller being equipped with a timer head, and a switch adapted to be closed by said timer head upon the rotation of said head, said switches being arranged in series in an electric circuit controlling the operation of said stitching head, said timer head being provided with a plurality of projections for closing said switch repeatedly upon a single rotation of said head.

'7. In a stitching machine equipped with a bed of rollers below the stitching head, spaced switches having actuating members extending between said rollers in longitudinally-spaced relation and adapted to be closed by contact with an object moved over said roller bed, at least one of said rollers being mounted for rotation by engagement with said object, a timer head carried by said roller, and a switch adapted to be actuated by said timer head upon rotation of the head, all of said switches being arranged in series in an electric circuit controlling the operation of the stitching head.

8. In a stitching machine of the character set forth, a bed equipped with a roller mounted for rotation upon contact with an object moved over said bed, said roller being provided with a head, a timer member on said head, and a normally open switch arranged in series in an electric circuit controlling the operation of the stitching head and adapted to be closed momentarily by contact with the timer member of said head.

9. In a stitching machine of the character set forth, a bed equipped with a roller mounted for rotation upon contact with a carton moved over said bed, said roller being provided with a head having a plurality of spaced knobs, and a normally-open spring switch arranged in series in an electric circuit controlling the operation of the stitching head, said switch being adapted to be closed momentarily by contact with the knobs of the timer head.

10. In a stitching machine equipped with a bed to carry objects to be stitched, switches spaced longitudinally of said bed and adapted to be actuated by said objects as they traverse said bed, a roller adapted to be engaged by said objects as they traverse said bed, a switch actuated by rotation of said roller, and means responsive to the simultaneous actuation of said switches to control operation of the stitching head.

11. In a stitching machine adapted to stitch objects as they traverse a predetermined path, switches spaced longitudinally of said path and adapted to be actuated by said objects as they traverse said path, a roller adapted to be engaged by said objects as they traverse said path, a switch actuated by rotation of said roller, and means responsive to the simultaneous actuation of said switches to control operation of the stitching head.

12. In a stitching machine adapted to stitch objects as they traverse a predetermined path, switches spaced longitudinally of said path and adapted to be actuated by said objects as they traverse said path, and means responsive to the simultaneous actuation of said switch-es to control operation of the stitching head.

ORVILLE M. 'I'UBBS.

No references cited. 

